San Francisco Columbarium Skylight Restoration
We have completed several projects at the SF Columbarium over the last few years. The restoration of 110 year old stained glass windows, the restoration of the stained glass Rotunda Dome, new stained glass skylights and new stained glass windows.
Our most recent project there was the repair and restoration of four Skylights. These were all located on the second floor.
As you will see from the pictures I have included, all four were in very deteriorated condition. So much so in fact that we decided the only way to save them was to completely re-build them. We dis-assembled them completely and started over.
Another aspect to the job which made it much more challenging is that these were originally built and laid in place as one continuous stained glass panel in each skylight. The only way these could have been laid in place was to do so from the roof before the glass enclosures were installed above these skylights. This meant that we had no way of simply lowering the glass from the skylight frame…so, we had to remove and lower the entire frame with the glass still in them…very, very heavy and cumbersome. That design had also meant that no one could clean the upper side of the stained glass and as the pictures show, they had accumulated many, many years of grime.
In our re-building of them, we divided the stained glass panels of each skylight into three sections rather than one continuous panel and added additional support to each panel. This made these much easier to work with and also means it will now be possible to clean the upper side of each panel.
The re-building was well worth the extra effort, these are now, once again, magnificent pieces of stained glass art. We hope you agree.
Beginning deconstruction Close up of window before Partly deconstructed All the old lead removed Fully cleaned perfecting placement In the process of cleaning Sketch of design New lead! Beginning stages of new lead Showing the process of leading Each piece is placed perfectly Taking shape Close up of new lead Completed! Almost finished! What a difference! Look at that amazing glass Ready to install! Amazing color New Framing! Precious cargo Showing her off! Waiting for the glass! Almost there! Getting closer! Ready for my close up Complete! Just beautiful Exterior view of the building Before restoration Close up of needed repair Gentle removal Wow, look at that grime! To the studio! Very carefully . . . So ready to be restored! Slowly removing each piece About to head to the shop!
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